New York, 29 May 2019. Cuba participated today in the General Assembly debate on Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform, where it reiterated that only through debate, in the established time and frameworks, will it be possible to define a path towards a consensus in relation to this reform, on which there are deep disagreements among the delegations. In the opinion of the island, the five thematic clusters on the Security Council Reform should be analyzed in a comprehensive manner and not separately, namely: categories of membership, regional representation, size and working methods of an enlarged Security Council, question of the veto and relationship between the Council and the General Assembly.
The Cuban representative, Diplomatic Attaché, Yillianne Sánchez Rodríguez, reiterated that her country favors the expansion of the Security Council both in the category of permanent and non-permanent members. The main objective of its expansion must be to rectify the under-representation of developing countries. At least, two countries of Africa, two countries of Asia and two countries of Latin America and the Caribbean must be admitted as new permanent members, she argued. Cuba does not favor the creation of new categories or sub-categories of members, since this would increase the existing differences and would encourage division among the members of the body, instead of contributing to its better functioning.
She insisted that the question of the veto is intrinsically linked to the working methods of the Council, in particular to the decision-making mechanism; therefore this anachronistic and undemocratic privilege must be removed as soon as possible.
She also presented her views concerning the working methods of the body, and explained that it is necessary to ensure it functions as a transparent, democratic and representative body. Greater efforts are needed in the search for effective formulas that ensure genuine participation of the Member States in the work and decision-making of the Council, she explained.
Sánchez Rodríguez called for the definitive adoption of a final text that regulates the work of the Council, aiming at increasing transparency and the level of accountability within it; she also stated that said body is duty-bound to submit truly analytical annual reports to the General Assembly that adequately evaluate its performance.
The diplomat of the Caribbean country to the international organization, stressed that the application of double standards in the analysis of certain issues under the consideration of this body is also a shared concern. She pointed out that all resolutions of the General Assembly that clarify the Security Council’s relationship with the Assembly and the principal bodies must be respected.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations